\protectTelomeredynamics and survival

Individuals with more negative ∆RTL values – indicating greater telomere shortening – had a greater subsequent risk of mortality (relative to individuals with no change in telomere length) while individuals with more positive ∆RTL values – indicating greater telomere lengthening – had a reduced risk of mortality (Fig. 4 & 5, Table 2). The quadratic function of ∆RTL was non-significant; thus, the effect of ∆RTL on mortality risk was constant throughout the range of ∆RTL. The association between mortality risk and ∆RTL was not dependent on the sex or age of these adult individuals (interaction terms reentered into final model; Table 2). As expected, older individuals had an increased mortality risk. Visual inspection of Schoenfield residuals showed no violation of the assumption of non-proportional hazards, meaning the effects of predictor variables on mortality risk were constant throughout the remaining lifespan.